Morocco will take on reigning champions North Korea in the last 16 of the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup on Wednesday, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
The match will be played at the Complexe Mohammed VI de football in Sale, beginning at 16:00 French time and 15:00 in Morocco.
It will be available to watch for free via streaming on FIFA+ through DAZN. In Morocco, the game will also be shown free-to-air on Arryadia, as well as on beIN Sports MENA.
Morocco have reached the knockout stage for the second time in their history, and for the second consecutive edition. They must now overcome the side that eliminated them at the same stage last year if they are to reach the quarter-finals for the first time.
Youness Rabie’s team secured their passage to the last 16 without playing on the final day of the group stage. Their qualification was confirmed after Venezuela were beaten, allowing Morocco to progress as one of the best third-placed teams.
The Atlas Lionesses began the tournament with an impressive 4-0 victory over New Zealand. They then suffered defeats by Germany, losing 4-2, and Argentina, who won 5-1.
Their reward is a meeting with a formidable North Korea side who have won the past two editions of the competition and remain the favourites to retain the trophy.
North Korea defeated Morocco 6-1 at this stage of last year’s tournament, making Wednesday’s meeting a chance for Rabie’s players to avenge that heavy loss while pursuing an unprecedented quarter-final appearance.
However, North Korea have appeared less dominant than they did in the previous edition, when they completed the tournament with a perfect record.
They opened this campaign by beating Puerto Rico 6-0 and followed that result with a 6-1 victory over Poland. Their progress was checked in the group stage by Nigeria, who recorded a 3-1 win.
That defeat means Morocco may see an opportunity against opponents who have already shown signs of vulnerability. North Korea’s experience and recent record nevertheless make them a major obstacle in the hosts’ path.
The winner will advance to the quarter-finals, while Morocco are seeking to make further history on home soil after reaching the knockout phase for only the second time.
